The Cleveland Browns have decided that the time is right to blood one of their two rostered rookie quarterbacks in place of Joe Flacco — but, in typical Browns fashion, have elected to start Dillon Gabriel on the road… in London!

The former Oregon Duck was originally named the team’s back-up quarterback in late August, getting the nod over fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders after training camp, and following the trade of Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders. However, the Browns opted to stick with the tried-and-trusted Flacco in a bid to make a winning start to the season. Instead, they currently own a 1-3 record — albeit with that lone win, over the Green Bay Packers, coming after a Flacco drive that put Andre Szmyt in position to boot the clinching field goal — and have struggled to put points on the board. Gabriel’s only previous action came in preseason, where he entered the games against Baltimore and Detroit late in the fourth quarter.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that the rookie would take extended reps with the first team over three days of practice and walkthroughs prior to heading for London.

“I’m excited for Dillon,” Stefanski said via the Browns website. “He’s done everything, and handled everything, really well since he’s been on campus here. From the second he came in, he’s been working very hard, [and is a] very intelligent young man. He’s done a nice job throughout practice and, this whole season, he’s been learning how to get ready, understand the rhythm of an NFL week and what that looks like as a back-up. Obviously, now we feel like he’s ready to start.”

Over the course of training camp, joint practices and the preseason, Gabriel demonstrated an ability to move the offense downfield, operating in the pocket and connecting with receivers. Now the Browns, who were due to leave for London yesterday (Wednesday) will throw a player many described as ‘undersized’ into the fray against Brian Flores’ Minnesota Vikings defense.

“It’s the moment you look forward to as a competitor,” Gabriel insisted. “But then, it’s been part of my job to be ready, to be that sense of hope for everyone to continue to be better, come together and create momentum for each other. So, I’m excited for that, but also extremely focused at doing my job at a high level.”

The Browns will be the nominated home team for this Sunday match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and Gabriel will make a little bit of NFL history as the first quarterback to make their debut in an international game. He won’t be going in alone, however, as Flacco has been happy to share his 18 years of NFL knowledge with the rookie.

“He’s ready to go,” the former Ravens Super Bowl commented. “I’m sure he’s super excited about this opportunity. You can tell he takes it seriously just by the way he studies and his intent in the meeting rooms and on the practice field.”

Gabriel will also have a new protector going forward, after the Browns and Houston Texans agreed terms on a trade that brings veteran tackle Cam Robinson to The Land, with Cleveland also gaining a 2027 seventh-round pick in exchange for their sixth-rounder the same season. If Robinson plays in London this weekend, he will be facing one of his former teams, having spent a part of the 2024 campaign in Minnesota.